New “Silver Coin” Score: UAH 320,000 for Down Syndrome Kids Education
As of April 30, UAH 320,709.4 was collected by the clients and employees of UkrSibbank within “Silver Coin” project for the needs of Down Syndrome Kids. This is an absolute record of the 6-year old initiative set up by the bank and the Ukrainian Charitable Organization “Down Syndrome”.
All the funds raised by the project will be earmarked to enroll these “sunny” children into general preschool education institutions. To implement this target, it is necessary to work out an educational program for teachers throughout Ukraine, set up family support service, provide services for early intervention together with specialists (professional psychological and pedagogical support provided by the Early Development Center), organize regional trainings for parents and professionals, create a video support course for professionals working with Down syndrome children.
“I am glad that the bank employees and the clients support “Silver Coin” project. They often thank us for this chance to join the initiative aimed at supporting Down syndrome children,” said Kostiantyn Lezhnin, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board on Retail Banking at JSC UkrSibbank BNP Paribas Group. “The results of the project prove that charity has become the real trend in Ukraine, and in spite of the difficult economic environment, the amount transferred for the needs of the “sunny” kids grows annually”.
Total amount of funds donated in the course of 6 years is over UAH 1,375,000. In 2010 the donations were used to equip the specialized Early Development Center for children with Down syndrome; in 2011 to distribute special programs for development of speaking and reading skills “See and Learn”; in 2012 to set up special training courses for teachers, speech therapists, psychologists and parents of children with Down syndrome in 5 regions of Ukraine; in 2013 to provide comprehensive diagnosis and counseling for children with Down syndrome and their parents nationwide, to publish recommendations for families, as well as to support programs of Early Development Center of UCO “Down Syndrome”; in 2014 for psychological counseling, therapeutic parental groups, development and publication of booklets for the maternity hospitals, perinatal centers and antenatal clinics, regional trainings for parents and professionals.